Government Notes: Linn County awards $50,000 in grants to four nonprofits

The Linn County Board of Supervisors awarded $50,000 in grants to four local nonprofit organizations last week. The awards are:

The funds come from the Linn County Legacy & Community Attraction Fund, which is meant to foster and support long-standing, new and diverse community events and organizations that “substantially promote Linn County history or culture and/or work to draw in residents and visitors,” according to a news release about the awards.

A goal of the grant program is to provide a small number of larger awards, thereby making a more substantial impact to the recipient organizations. Recipients are selected through an annual competitive grant process.

This year, the Board of Supervisors received grant requests totaling more than $300,000 with only $50,000 in available funds. The funding for the program was reduced from $150,000 to $50,000 following budget cuts in fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025.

Cedar Rapids shifts to winter yard waste collection

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Cedar Rapids residents who want their yard waste collected will have to request it starting this week. Cedar Rapids Solid Waste & Recycling’s seasonal yard waste collection will last through Friday, Feb. 28.

Customers can schedule yard waste collection services by calling Solid Waste & Recycling Customer Service at 319-286-5897 or submitting a My CR request at CityofCR.com/MyCR.

During January and February, customer use of the yard waste program is reduced significantly, with drivers making less than 100 stops per day compared to 3,000 to 4,000 stops per day in warmer months.

Shifting to on-request service for the few customers using the program in winter ensures efficient, cost-effective operations and reduces fuel use, according to a news release from the city. The adjustments also provide greater flexibility in collecting garbage and recycling during winter weather events.

Cedar Rapids schools hosts legislative forum

Cedar Rapids school leaders will discuss their legislative priorities with lawmakers in a meeting open to the public at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, at Truman Early Learning Center, 441 W Post Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids.

Priorities that may be discussed include an increase in Supplemental State Aid, which is the amount of funding provided by the state to the district per-pupil. That revenue represents the majority of each district’s general fund, 80 percent of which pays salaries, and represents more than $110 million in revenue for Cedar Rapids schools this year.

Another priority of the district is for the state to fully fund preschool for 4-year-olds. The district opened its first full-day preschool program in the fall of 2022 with the help of short-term pandemic relief funding, which has since expired.

After two years of the program at the Truman Early Learning Center being funded by federal dollars — the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief — the district is restoring to state funding that now funds preschool at half the usual per-pupil rate.

The district saved state funds it received for preschool to continue budgeting for full-day programming this school year.

Children who participate in early childhood programming are healthier and have better social-emotional and cognitive outcomes than their peers, according to district officials. Children with access to 4-year-old preschool also are less likely to repeat a grade, less likely to be identified as having special needs and more likely to graduate from high school.

School board President Cindy Garlock said there is an extensive waiting list for families wanting to get their children into Truman.

“This year seems to be a critical year in raising that funding” for 4-year-old preschool, which is currently funded at a rate of .5 per student, Garlock said during a school board meeting last week.

Garlock asked the public to advocate for their schools with lawmakers.

Marion Independent administrator honored for work

Peggy Murphy, director of technology with the Marion Independent School District, has been named the 2025 Central Office Administrator of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa.

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Murphy has more than 30 years of experience in K-12 education, including teaching. In her time as director of technology at Marion Independent, she has helped improve the district’s cybersecurity, increased wireless internet coverage and added school safety emergency alert lanyards.

Murphy has been instrumental in leading the computer science team and other computer science initiatives in the district.

“Peggy’s leadership in technology has not only enhanced learning experiences for students but has also strengthened the foundation for future-ready schools across the Marion Independent School District,” Lisa Remy, executive director of the School Administrators of Iowa, said in a news release.

Jill Kenyon, director of student services for the Pleasant Valley Community School District, called Murphy a “student-centered, innovative leader.”

“Peggy has championed professional development programs and secured many grants to transform technology in the Marion Independent” district, said Kenyon, who was on the selection committee for the award.

School Administrators of Iowa is a statewide organization founded in 1987 that represents more than 2,000 Iowa educational administrators. It advocates for Iowa school leaders, offers leadership development and learning opportunities each year, provides legal counsel and facilitates mentoring and induction for new administrators statewide.

Iowa City Parks and Recreation receives $200K REAP grant

Iowa City has received a $200,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program.

This is the 10th consecutive year that the Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department has received money from the program, and the 15th award overall.

Much of the grant is expected to be used for improvements along the Sycamore Greenway. The work will include adding bike amenities and more benches. it also will help restore the stormwater infrastructure capacity of the greenway and improve wildlife habitat.

In addition, funds will be used to plant native species and remove undesirable plants.

REAP has provided more than $2.5 million to Iowa City over the last 35 years. The most recent REAP grant award is being used for ecological restoration and trail improvements at the historic Ned Ashton House.

Linn County updates ordinances for accessory structures, setbacks

The Linn County Board of Supervisors last week approved an updated ordinance to change detached accessory structure size limits in residential zoning districts within Linn County.

According to the county, the purpose of the change is to the structures’ sizes to “preserve neighborhood character while balancing rural and agricultural needs.” Linn County Planning & Development staff analyzed building permit requests over the past 10 years and examined best practices to develop the updated ordinance.

Changes in the ordinance base size limitations on maximum lot coverage and/or structure footprints. Maximum lot coverage varies depending on the size of the parcel, but there is no limit on parcels that are more than three acres in size. The maximum structure footprint is now 5,000 square feet. The maximum height of an accessory structure on a property zoned residential is 25 feet. Also, size limits are cumulative.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors also unanimously approved an updated ordinance to change property setbacks in several Linn County zoning districts. Setbacks govern the minimum distance between a building or structure and the property line.

More information about the ordinance updates can be found on a Detached Accessory Structures handout and Setbacks handout, which are found on the Planning & Development website, linncountyiowa.gov/146/Planning-Development.

Iowa City Landfill to begin new operating hours Jan. 11

The new year will bring new hours at the Iowa City Landfill.

Beginning Jan. 11, 2025, the Iowa City Landfill will close at noon on Saturdays. Weekday hours, which are 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m., will remain unchanged. The schedule change will impact every service available at the landfill.

The schedule change is to improve operational efficiency and ensure only Johnson County residents are using the landfill.

Government Notes is published Mondays and contains updates from area governmental bodies. The Gazette’s Megan Woolard, Grace King and Sara Konrad Baranowski contributed.